How to Focus on God in a World Full of Distraction
I am easily lured away from focusing on what is important.
Shiny things catch my attention, and my mind wanders off on a rabbit trail of diversion.
I think I have the disease of distraction. How about you?
Maybe like me you can waste an entire day trolling Facebook and being nosy. Have you ever sat for hours watching absolutely nothing on television with the remote in hand? Perhaps you’ve spent a night researching recipes but never cooked a thing.
The new popular term for this disease is Shiny Object Syndrome. Like the dog in the movie Up, I am enticed by squirrels and shiny things that flash by my line of view.
Honestly, I waste so much time in my day just letting my thoughts drift and day dreaming. I’ve had entire conversations in my head that never took place, but I was emotionally exhausted just from over-thinking about it.
The hardest time of the day is when I try to read my Bible. Y’all, the struggle is real. I can open up the Good Book to any page at any time of the day and be immediately distracted in like 5 seconds.
I don’t know if you struggle with spiritual ADD as much as I do, but my guess is that you may find it hard to focus on God in a world full of shiny distractions.
We are distracted by our phones.
We are distracted by paparazzi news stories.
We are distracted by rehearsing our hurts, catastrophizing our problems, and trying to psycho-analyze pesky people.
If you are tired of living an out of focus life like me, I want to offer you 3 suggestions from God’s Word to help you say NO to the shiny stuff and YES to sweet time with your Savior.
3 Ways to Focus on God in a World Full of Distractions
Look Away from Shiny Diversions
The enemy of our souls lives to distract us and weigh us down. If anything other than life and peace are renting space in your head, it’s time to serve those unwelcome visitors an eviction notice. Take inventory of what thoughts are consuming your energy, rather than feeding your spirit. Streamline your thoughts of all that’s unnecessary.
“…let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, looking away from all that will distract us and focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith…”(Hebrews 12:1-2, AMP)
Look In the Steadfast Truth
If you are looking at anything else other than God’s Word to determine your appearance, your perception is distorted. The stain of sin clouds every image on our television screens, on our laptops, and in print. Don’t let this broken world define you — you are not damaged goods. You are a masterpiece reflecting the image of Christ, and you radiate His love in a unique way. You lack nothing, beautiful one.
“But he who looks carefully into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and faithfully abides by it, not having become a careless listener who forgets but an active doer who obeys, he will be blessed and favored by God in what he does in his life of obedience. (James 1:25)
Look Toward a Sure Eternity
Christ followers are forward thinkers — we are pursuing a higher call than just making ends meet and planning for retirement. We aren’t settling for temporary shacks. Our sights are on a heavenly habitation, and hope propels us onward with purpose and passion. Shiny things can’t tempt you when you have glory in view.
“But you, beloved, build yourselves up on the foundation of your most holy faith — continually progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher, pray in the Holy Spirit, and keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously and looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which will bring you to eternal life.” (Jude 1:20-21)
This month, I invite you to join me in a simple morning exercise to fix our focus on God.
I’ve created a one-page printable with simple sentence prayers and Scriptures to help you start your day. Download a copy and pray through these sweet promises every morning to help you combat spiritual ADD in your quiet time with Jesus. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.
When we look at Jesus consistently, our countenance changes. We radiate life and peace, and people start to wonder why we are different. We will shine Jesus in the midst of this crazy busy life.
Focus on your glorious Savior, and the shiny things of this world will grow strangely dim.
Focus on your glorious Savior, and the shiny things of this world will grow strangely dim.
Click To Tweet
⇓
Faith on Fire Spotlight:
Kelly Balarie
Too often we fail to prepare for our battles. So when challenges, troubles, or opportunities arise, we rapidly become burdened with limiting thoughts of self-doubt, fear, impossibility, and lack. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can train our minds to conquer uncertainty, beat insecurity, and step past the tragedies of yesterday.
Battle Ready is a hands-on scriptural plan that teaches you twelve easy-to-implement, confidence-building mind-sets designed to transform your thoughts and, therefore, your life. You’ll gain practical wisdom, like how to
make new habits stick in just five steps
disarm the seven most common attacks that plague women
exchange self-limiting thoughts for purpose-driven, love-releasing thoughts
implement thirty-second mind-lifters that deliver peace
create boundaries so you live life full of what matters
You can live victoriously.
Battle Ready is packed full of Scriptural truth and practical tips to help you focus on God in a world full of distraction. Pick up a copy of Kelly’s wonderful book here.
Kelly Balarie, an author and national speaker, is on a mission to encourage others not to give up. Through times of extreme testing, Kelly believes there is hope for every woman, every battle and in every circumstance. She shares this hope on her blog, Purposeful Faith, and on many writing publications such as Relevant, Crosswalk, and Today’s Christian Woman. Kelly’s work has been featured on The Today Show, 700 Club Interactive, Moody Radio and other television and radio broadcasts. When Kelly is not writing, she is chilling at the beach with her husband, a latte, and 2-toddlers who rightfully demand she build them awesome castles.
⇓
Giveaway
Y’all know I am a big book nerd. Other women buy shoes, but I buy books and Bible commentaries.
For everyone who asks me “what should I read next?” I now have a sweet list of my favorite reads for you to check out. Amazon created a space for social media influencers to share cv!
If you are looking for a good read to fire up your faith, then check out what’s on my nightstand here.
(Disclosure: Amazon will compensate me a little for anything you may purchase through this page. Thanks in advance if you do.)
I’m giving away one copy of Battle Ready to a reader this week. Leave a comment before Monday, July 15th letting me know that you shared this post on Facebook or Instagram to enter– and let me know what’s on your nightstand right now.
Note: You must live within the U.S. to enter today’s giveaway
⇓
Want to dig deeper into the Word together?
Join me Live on Facebook on Mondays at 2:00 EST for
“Fired Up & Hopeful” — A verse by verse study of I Peter.
Catch the replay on YouTube or IGTV
⇓
Are you ready to fire up your faith?
Join the Wildfire Faith Community to get #FaithFuel in your inbox.
You’ll receive “4 Surefire Ways to Ignite Your Faith” as my gift to you.
You’ll also get access to the practical resources and goodies in our private Faith Fuel library.
Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box. 
